Supporting member for pull chain switches



March 20, 1951 B. SCHOENBERG 9 73 SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR FULL CHAIN SWITCHES Filed April 17, 1948 Patented Mar. 20, 1 951 FFICE SWITCHES SUPPORTINGMEMBER FORPULL oHAm Benjamin Schoenberg, 'Cor0na,N. Y. Application April 17, 1948, Serial.No.I21,597

2 Claims. 1

My invention is an improvement in supporting members for electric switches; especially switches of the pull-chain type for lighting fixtures and other electrical appliances.

An important object of my improvement is to provide a member adapted to be easily attached adjacent alighting fixture, so that the switch can be securely mounted; with the chain or cord hanging down within easy reach of ones hand to actuate the switch and thus turn on the light or extinguish it.

Another object is to provide a member of this kind so constructed that the chain or the like is always maintained in the most effici'ent operating position. To this end the casing of the switch is adjustably connected to the supporting member or fitting.

The nature, objects and advantages of the invention are set out in the following description and accompanying drawings and the novel features are defined in the appended claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a device for use with a lighting fixture, secured to a ceiling or the like, with my improvement thereon.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the supporting member or fitting.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a modification; and

Figure 5 shows another modification.

The numeral I indicates part of an outlet device having a downward extending boss or neck 2. This device is aflixed to the ceiling of a room, for example; or any other suitable place; and is associated with the fixture having the usual sockets, not shown, for electric lamps. The boss or neck 2 is hollow and is adapted to give passage to electric conductors which are led out through it and connected tothe lamps or other devices which are to be energized. The outlet device l and the fixture are not parts of this invention and a fuller description thereof is not required.

On the boss or neck 2 is screwed a supporting member or fitting 3, that engages threads 4 on the lower end of the boss 2. The member 3 carries the casing 5 containing the parts of the switch, and the latter is of course put into the circuit of the electric wiring to the lamps. The mechanism of the switch is well known and need not be further illustrated. It is actuated by a pull chain or cord 6, passing out from the inside of the casing through the lower end of the member 3. Switches of this kind are very desirable for electric Ii 2 l ghting fixtures; because they are easy to operate but it has always been difiicult to mount them properlyto give the service required of them. The aim iof .my invention is to provide means for conveniently doing-this. The chain or cord 6 is enclosed in a guide tube or sleeve 1 made'fast to the fitting 3, this sleeve extending down far enough to make sure that the element *6 will not bind against or "foul with any part of theoutlet device of lighting fixture adjacent the device-i.

The mode of mounting the casing "5 is illustrated particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 3,'the first of these views presenting the switch 'ca'sing' at one side of the member 3. The general shape of this member or fitting is that of a U turned over on its side. It comprises a body having at the top a securing part such as a large ring 8, with internal threads to enable the fitting to be screwed upon the neck 4. The opposite end carries a similar part in the form of a smaller ring 9, with internal threads to be engaged by threads on the upper end of the tubular extension or guide 1; the two rings 8 and 9 being substantially parallel and connected at one side by a bridge Ill. The casing 5 is adjustably mounted on the lower part of the fitting 3 and when this fitting with the guide I joined thereto is screwed upon the boss 2, the casing is securely mounted and smooth and certain operation of the switch is assured.

To this end the ring or part 9 has a lateral projection H on which is adjustably disposed an angle-shaped bracket I2 by which the casing 5 is held in position. One leg l3 of the bracket has arms or clips 14 which embrace the side edges of the projection H; and the latter has a central slot I5. This leg l3 of the bracket has a threaded opening for a screw l6, which lies in the slot l5, and the head thereof, when the screw is tightened, presses against the lower face of the projection H and makes the bracket l2 fast. The other leg I! of the bracket is vertical and has a threaded opening l8 into which the threaded neck IQ of the casing 5 is inserted. A binding nut 20 on the neck locks the casing to the bracket; and the casing has a tubular outlet 2I' with a flaring end mouth 22 for the chain 6. The outer end of the mouth 22 is substantially over the center of the guide 1. The chain 6 can therefore always be pulled safely, because it slides smoothly in the flaring curved mouth 22 of the outlet 2|.

In Figure 4, the bracket 18 as before for the neck of l2a has an opening the casing 5, but the other leg Ha has a slot 15a, and a screw I6 is employed to secure the bracket to the bridge 10; the latter having a threaded opening for this screw. This bracket also will bear the casing in such position that the outlet 2| will hold the chain directly over the center of the extension E.

Figure 5 shows the bracket lib integral with the member. The projection lib at one side of the lower ring 9 is in one piece with the ring and the leg 11b that has the threaded opening 18 for the tubular outlet 2| of the casing 5. The axis of this opening, as in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 will intersect the axis of the opening in the ring 9, and when the casing 5 is properly secured in the opening 18 the end of the tubular outlet 2| will again be directly over the center of the guide 1.

The member or fitting is thus quite simple, easy to mount and well adapted to serve the intended purpose.

While the embodiments above set forth are the preferred forms of my improvement I do not wish to be restricted thereto in all details, but I reserve the right to make changes without deviating from the general design that distinguishes the invention.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1. A supporting member comprising a body having a ring at one end with internal threads, a ring at the other end with internal threads, said rings being substantially parallel, a bridge connecting said rings at the edges, a laterally extending bracket on said body, the bracket having a leg with an opening the axis of which intersects the axis of said rings, said opening receiving the neck of a switch casing with a tubular outlet having its outer end substantially in line with the middle of the opening of the last-named ring.

2. A supporting member comprising a body having a ring at one end with internal threads, 2. smaller ring at the other end with internal threads, said rings being substantially parallel, a bridge connecting said rings at the edges, a laterally extending bracket on said body, the bracket having a leg with an opening the axis of which intersects the axis of said ring-s, said opening receiving the neck of a switch casing with a tubular outlet having its outer end substantially in line with the middle of the opening of the last-named ring, said smaller ring at the other end having a slotted projection and said bracket having a second leg at an angle to the first with arms to engage said projection, and a screw in said slot to hold the bracket in adjusted position.

BENJAMIN SCI-IOENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,080,617 Zizinia Dec. 9, 1913 1,316,155 Harrison et al Sept. 16, 1919 1,867,226 Martin July 12, 1932 

